Car-step.



No. 722,074. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1903.

G. T. ANDREWS, G. A. ISBE-LL & A. L. MARTIN.

OAR STEP.

APPLICATION mum 111:0. a, .1902.

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No. 722,074. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1903.

v G. T. ANDREWS, G. A. ISBELL & A. L. MARTIN.

GAR STEP.

APPLIUATION rum) 111:0. 8,1902.

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No. 722,074. PATENTED MAR. 8, 1903. G. T. ANDREWS, G. A. ISBELL &A. L. MARTIN.

GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1902.

.150 MODEL. 3 QHBETS-SHBET 8.

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UNiTrp STATES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. ANDREWS, GEORGE A. ISBELL AND ALBERT L. MARTIN, OF CLINTON, IOWA; SAID ISBELL ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO SAID MARTIN.

CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 22,074, dated March 3, 1903. Application filed December 8,1902. Serial No. 134,350. (No model.)

all whont it rmty concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE T. ANDREWS,

GEORGE A. ISBELL, and ALBERT L. MARTIN,

citizens of the United States, residing at Olin- Improvements inCar-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements incar-steps, and refers particularly to a step for use upon railroad-cars; and one object of our invention is the provision of a car-step which can be quickly lowered to enable a person to enter the car or alight therefrom and which when not in use protects the step and forms a guard to prevent a person from accidentally falling from the car-platform.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a car-step which can be quickly unfolded when desired for use and as quickly returned to normal position and which when in normal position will keep the step dry and exclude rain, snow, or sleet, and thus render the step absolutely safe under all conditions.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a car-step which in normal position will form a barrier or guard for the platform and prevent a person from falling from the platform, which can be quickly placed in operative position, and which is the embodiment of simplicity, inexpensiveness, and durability, thus combining all the requirements to insure a thoroughly practical and useful car-step.

WVith these objects in view our invention consists of a car-step embodying. novel features of construction and combination of parts, substantially as disclosed herein.

In order that the details of construction and the operation of our invention may be fully understood and its numerous advantages appreciated, we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a car step constructed in accordance with and embodying our invention.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our car-step applied to the car-platform with the parts being in a position assumed when the step is opened or lowered. Fig. 2 represents a similar view, the parts being in the position they occupy when the step is closed and out of view and a guard or barrier is provided. Fig. 3 representsa'side elevation of our car-step. Fig. 4: represents ga sectional view. Figs. 5 and 6 represent detail views. Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of a modified construction of our car -'step, the parts being in the position when the step is open and ready for use. Figs.'8 and 9 represent detail views of the mechanism used in the modified construction of our car-step.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, in which similar numerals denote corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a portion of a car, and 2 one of the car-platforms in connection with which we employ our car-step, which we will proceed to describe in detail.

Our car-step consists of the rigid step portion 3, secured to the platform, and the hinge step portion 4:, hinged at 5 to the rigid step-section, and the whole when in position for use forming the series of steps, the lowest step having an extended portion 6, which overlaps upon the platform when the steps are closed and forms a cover or protecting strip, and the steps, it will be seen, fit snugly together when not in use and form a perfect shield against the damaging in fluences of the Weather and in addition are entirely out of the Way. In the rigid step-section is mounted the shaft 6', to which is secured or connected a series of arms 7, which have their ends secured to the hinged steps, as at S, and to the outer extended end of said shaft is secured a beveled pinion 9, which meshes with a similar pinion 10 on a vertical shaft 11, said vertical shaft being retained by the yoke-shaped bracket 12, secured to the rail 13, supported by standards 15, secured to the platform. The said vertical shaft carries at its upper end a beveled pinion 16, with which engages the segmental rack 17, mounted upon the rail and formed with the handle or lever 18, which also when the steps are not in use engages the keeper 19, secured to the car, and provides a guard or barrier to prevent a person from accidentally falling from the platform. In operation it will be seen that the raising of the handle turns the rack, which revolves the vertical shaft, which in turn revolves the horizontal shaft and'opens and lowers the hinged step-section, and lowering the handle closes the hinged section or returns it to normal position.

In the modified construction of our invention we employ a handle 20, which carries a grooved pulley 21, over which passes a band 22, and from thence the band passes over the grooved pulley 23 on the horizontal shaft 24, connected to the hinged car-step in the manner before described, and in this construction, as in'the other, the raising of the handle opens and lowers the hinged steps and the lowering of the handle returns the hinged steps to normal position or closes them, and to protect the operating-band we provide a suitable casing 25, which prevents tampering with the mechanism.

It will be understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, that we provide a car-step which can be applied to railway-cars in general use at a slight expense and which step will prove a valuable, useful, and entirely practical addition to railway-cars.

We claim- 1. A car-step consisting of a rigid section, a hinged section folding upon and protecting said rigid section and means for opening and closing said hinged section and forming a guard when the hinged section is closed.

2.' A car-step consisting of a rigid section, a hinged section adapted to fold upon the rigid section and having a protecting strip or cover and means for opening and closing said hinged section and forming a guard when the hinged section is closed.

3. A car-step consisting of a rigid section, a hinged section adapted to fold upon and cover the rigid section when not in use, means for opening and closing the hinged section, said means forming a guard or barrier for the car-platform when the steps are closed.

4. A car-step consisting of a stationary section, a hinged section, said hinged section folding upon and protecting the rigid section when not in use, a shaft mounted in the stationary section, a vertical shaft operating said shaft to open and close the hinged section and means for operating the vertical shaft.

5. A car step consisting of a rigid and hinged step-section, said hinged section folding upon and protecting the rigid section when not in use, a horizontal shaft mounted in the rigid section, means for revolving said shaft and a handle for manually operating said means for opening and closing the step.

6. A car step consisting of a rigid and hinged step-section, a horizontal shaft mounted in the rigid section and connected to the hinged section, means for revolving the shaft to open and close the hinged section and a device operating said means, said device also forming a guard or barrier when the step is closed.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE T. ANDREWS. GEORGE A. ISBELL. ALBERT L. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR L. WEssELs, MARGARET DUFFY. 

